Dennis Christopher

Photo of Dennis Christopher

Biography

This once boyishly handsome, stage-trained character player enjoyed a brief stint as a Hollywood leading man in the late 1970s and early 80s after the surprising success of "Breaking Away" (1979). Christopher proved extremely likable as a young Italophile cyclist in middle America coming to grips with growing up. Though he was already 24 at the time, Christopher was so convincing at conveying the anxieties of youth that he won a Youth in Film …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

December 2, 1955

Career Milestones

Gained acclaim for his performance in Los Angeles production of "Balm in Gilead"

Moved to California

Moved to Paris; joined the Living Theater through which he acted in street theater and experimental films

1971

Made film acting debut in "Blood and Lace", a low-budget horror film starring Gloria Grahame

1971

Moved to California

1972

Moved to Italy; cast in "Fellini's Roma"

1974

Moved to New York; made stage debut in "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy" at the Chelsea Theater Center at the Brooklyn Academy of Music

1976

Made TV acting debut in NBC's "The Oregon Trail"

1979

Breakthrough feature lead, "Breaking Away"

1980

Starred opposite Farrah Fawcett in a Florida production of "Butterflies Are Free"

1981

Featured in sport drama "Chariots of Fire"

1981

Played the role of Leo Hubbard in stage revival of "The Little Foxes" in Florida, Washington DC and ultimately on Broadway opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton

1982

Last starring role in a feature, "Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder", as an American GI opposite Susan Saint James as a doctor in Vietnam

1986

Last role in a big-budget mainstream Hollywood film, "Jake Speed"

1989

TV acting debut, "Christabel", a four-part "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation

1990

Network TV miniseries debut, "Stephen King's 'IT'" (ABC)

1990

Played seedy criminal Leech in the low-budget sci-fi actioner "Circuitry Man"; reprised role for "Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II" (1994)

1996

Joined impressive ensemble for Randal Kleiser's AIDS comedy-drama "It's My Party"

1996

TV series debut, recurring role (uncredited voice) as an enigmatic serial killer on NBC's crime drama "Profiler"

1998

Returned to NYC stage in off-Broadway play "Retribution"

2000

Returned to series TV as co-star of Fox drama "FreakyLinks"

2001

Earned good notices as the distant musician father in Pasadena Playhouse production of "Side Man"

2006

Guest starred on HBO's "Deadwood"

2012

Featured opposite Jamie Foxx in "Django Unchained," a Western drama set in Mississippi; film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino

Awards

1979

BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles in Breaking Away

1979

Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actor